While losing your memory is a painful and scary experience, you’re far from alone if you begin to do so. National Library of Medicine research reports that two out of three Americans over age 70 experience some form of cognitive decline.
Memory care services can help those with cognitive issues get their lives back on track. But what is memory care?
Read on to learn the ins and outs of this specialized type of assisted living!
What Is Memory Care?
To understand what memory care services are, it’s important to first understand what an assisted living community is.
Assisted living is a type of senior living focused on getting older adults the care needed to thrive. In these communities, compassionate experts assist with daily care tasks like:
- Dressing and changing clothes throughout the day
- Bathing and showering
- Brushing teeth
- Combing hair
- Using the bathroom
- Cleaning up messes
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Meal planning and preparation
But what is memory care in relation to assisted living?
A memory care community is a type of assisted living for those suffering from:
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s disease
Those in this senior living option get the same daily care help that those in assisted living do. However, they also get specialized assistance tailored to those with cognitive decline.
Some residents with mild cognitive decline will have less extensive treatment plans than other residents. Those with serious cognitive impairments like dementia may need a little extra assistance.
Memory care aims to let seniors retain as much autonomy and independence as possible. However, since the focus is primarily on getting residents the care they need to thrive, care plans will often be extensive.
What Do Seniors Get in Senior Memory Programs?
One of the best aspects of memory care is access to specialized knowledge.
Caregivers in memory care communities are well-versed in how to effectively help residents with cognitive decline. Experts in memory care services have been specifically trained and certified in working with those who have Alzheimer’s and dementia. They understand how cognitive decline works and why symptoms manifest in the ways they do.
Professionals in our memory care program are also well-versed in the link between:
- Social opportunities
- Diet and nutrition
- Fitness and exercise
- Overall wellness
- Memory loss
- Cognitive decline
This has allowed us to grow one of the best memory care communities in the United States.
Our experts also have experience working with residents who are:
- Forgetful
- Confused
- Disoriented
- Agitated
- Wandering aimlessly
- Unable to remember where they are and why they are there
Families can rely on TerraBella Summit’s memory care team to provide them with the best support available. After all, they know exactly how to talk to and calm down people experiencing all stages of memory loss.
Our team members are constantly getting updates on new research and technology related to memory care. This ensures that they can always provide the best care plans for residents. Ongoing training ensures that all best practices are followed to a T.
Alzheimer’s Support and Dementia Care
The best Greenville memory care community offers unique programs for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Those in Alzheimer’s support communities have specialized knowledge of how this disease works. In dementia care, professionals are well-versed in the specifics of dementia.
Choosing the right care plan means:
- Appropriate monitoring and care
- A better quality of life
- Feelings of independence
- Programs to manage the behavioral changes that come with cognitive decline
- A beautiful assisted living community with resort-style apartments and amenities
Regardless of what type of senior living option your loved one needs, they’ll be able to enjoy a wide range of community activities and events. This allows them to socialize and form connections. Social opportunities boost cognition and let seniors live in the present more easily.
Personalized Care Plans
TerraBella Summit is committed to offering unique care plans tailored to every resident. No two seniors have exactly the same needs, so assistance isn’t a one-size-fits-all activity.
We gather information from new residents and their families about seniors’ specific needs. We consider both what residents can do on their own and which activities they’ll need more help with.
Compassionate caregivers use this information to come up with a personally tailored, adaptable care plan to meet each senior’s specific needs.
The Benefits of Memory Care Services
Activities made to boost cognition are a core advantage of memory care. Caregivers encourage residents to boost their short-term and long-term memories by:
- Doing puzzles
- Playing board games
- Having longer conversations
- Recalling stories and anecdotes
- Reading and listening to audiobooks
Residents also unlock special experiences intended to boost sensory engagement, including:
- Music therapy
- Art therapy (including sketching and painting)
- Reminiscence therapy
Sensory activities stimulate all areas of the brain. This enhanced brain function helps to keep seniors as sharp as possible. After all, it lets them better engage with the world around them.
Enhanced Safety
Seniors with cognitive decline experience safety risks that others do not. Dementia wandering is one of the most dangerous symptoms of memory loss.
This condition takes place when someone begins to go somewhere but can’t remember where. They may wander around, even going outside. This can lead to risks like walking into traffic or trespassing on other properties.
Dementia wandering causes:
- Disorientation
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
The Alzheimer’s Association says that six in every ten people suffering from dementia will experience this at least once.
Memory care at TerraBella Summit implements several safety measures, including:
- Constant monitoring of common areas
- Color-coded areas in the community to help residents remember where they’re going
- Open floor plans that make it easier for residents to see what’s around them without becoming confused
Get Specialized Senior Care in Greenville, SC
So, what is memory care, exactly?
In the most basic terms, it’s a specialized senior care program that offers cognitive impairment assistance. But for families whose loved ones need extra help, it’s more than that. It’s a way for their loved ones to retain their dignity and autonomy as they age.
Now that you know the ins and outs of senior memory programs, it’s time to get started. Contact TerraBella Summit to learn more about our person-centered memory care program and schedule a tour of our well-appointed community!
